BRAIN WONDERS 2- 6 MONTHS
	Between the ages of two and six months, rapid changes are taking place in all areas of your baby's development, including the brain. Scientists believe that different parts of a baby's brain mature at different rates. As a result, you may see sudden spurts in your baby's development in the areas of physical control, thinking, communicating, and relating to others.                            You will see your baby exploring more and expressing a wider range of feelings as his physical, mental, and emotional systems continue to mature. Scans of the brain have shown us that the visual part of the newborn's brain is the most highly active.               Between two and six months, babies develop increased skill in scanning, tracking an object with their eyes, and focusing on objects. They can see in color, perceive depth, and adjust to different distances. By the time your baby is three or four months, his vision will be similar to an adult's. He is beginning during this period to combine what he sees with what he tastes, hears, and feels. This is called sensory integration. It is important to keep in mind that your baby's development during this period may be ahead or behind another child of the same age. Babies develop at their own unique rate instead of on a fixed schedule. This means that from infant to infant, a particular new behavior may appear at different times. Not all growth is even and parents may see some new behaviors appearing all of a sudden, while others show up in fits and starts.             If you are concerned, however, about how your baby is developing in any area, consult your doctor. It is also important to keep in mind how you are doing as a new parent to your baby. Getting to know your baby and yourself in relationship to this baby is a major undertaking. Give yourself permission to experience a range of positive and negative emotions during these early months. WHAT'S GOING ON: Senses (Hearing) By three months, a baby's brain can distinguish several hundred different spoken words, many more than are present in his native language. The brain organizes itself around those words heard most frequently and begins to create an auditory map to process language efficiently. There is no research at this point that indicates that one kind of music or another promotes early brain development. What is important is that the baby respond positively to whatever music is played.   WHAT YOU CAN DO:Senses (Hearing) ·  Many adults feel silly talking to a tiny baby. Don't! Talking to babies about what they are seeing and experiencing promotes language development. ·  Music can have a soothing effect. Try singing or playing lullabies and songs that repeat patterns and rhythms. Try dancing to music. ·  Try various styles of music and determine if he likes a particular type. Keep the volume moderate to low to avoid too much stimulation. WHAT'S GOING ON: Senses (Taste, Touch, and Motion) For now, there is not much clinical evidence about the degree to which a baby's sense of taste and smell are maturing. Swings also provide soothing movement that many babies love. However, one would want to be careful not to over use a swing. Too much time in a swing limits a baby's experience of movement to only one direction: back and forth. It might also limit the experience of being held, talked to, played with, and touched. Prolonged movement should be avoided during sleep periods. Movement/vibrations during sleep, such as a moving swing or stroller, "force the brain to a lighter sleep state" and make such sleep less restful (less restorative). WHAT YOU CAN DO: Senses (Taste, Touch, and Motion) ·  To simulate other senses you can use a light touch on his skin using fabrics and materials with different textures. Try materials like tissue, felt, or fur. If he dislikes any of these, stop the activity. ·  Rather than use a swing for hours, one might achieve the same calming effect by walking with him in your arms or rocking him when possible. Some infants enjoy the closeness of being near to your body in a sling or front pack. What's Going On:Motor Coordination During the 2-6 month period, you will see tremendous physical development. Your baby's deliberate movements replace the automatic reflex movements of a newborn. His gross (large muscle) motor movements are developing in strength and in coordination. He kicks actively and eventually rolls over from his back to his tummy. He is preparing to creep and to crawl. Head control develops first. At two months, he struggles to raise his head and shoulders off the mattress. By five months, he increasingly controls the muscles in his trunk and lower back. He can sit propped up in a chair and balance himself. He eventually stands up with help. His small muscles are developing, too. The movements of the muscles that control sucking and swallowing become more coordinated. At three months, he fingers his toys and plays with his fingers. He brings objects to his mouth. He eventually holds objects more securely, using his thumb. Small and large muscles are working together. With a deliberate reach, he can secure, grab hold, and transfer a toy from one hand to another. What You Can Do: Motor Coordination ·  Your baby will benefit from many opportunities to safely move around and use his large muscles. Play with him on the floor so that he gets plenty of exercise and interaction with you. ·  Offer a few simple toys to help your baby practice his grasp and learn that his hands are useful tools. Good choices are a small rattle with a handle, a rubber ring, or a soft doll that he can hold. In the crib, hang a mobile three or four inches in diameter for him to see, reach for, or touch lightly with his hand. ·  As your baby reaches six months, try giving some solid foods from a spoon. It is important that babies get their solids from a spoon rather than through a bottle in order to practice this emerging skill. Allow plenty of practice before you expect him to master this skill. Babies need to learn to thrust their tongue less and swallow in rhythm to the food intake. This can initially cause gagging and spitting up. What's Going On:Language Development Experts believe that babies have an easier time than adults do when it comes to learning language. This period is a prime time for language learning. At first, babies are capable of hearing the sounds of many different languages. If they are not used, the connections in the brain for sounds of other languages become weaker while the connections for the language they are hearing grow stronger. Babbling sounds usually appear at the end of the third month. Those "oohs" and "ahhhs" are called cooing. When she adds consonants to these vowel sounds, she will choose "p," "b," and "m" most frequently. The amount of time a baby spends babbling increases each month. Soon, the cooing sounds like syllables strung together. These, along with other baby sounds like gurgles and laughing aloud, are the beginnings of her first words, phrases, and sentences. She will be listening more intently to sounds. Grunts, growls, and complaints will express her displeasure. What You Can Do: Language Development   ·  Encourage her to babble by mimicking her favorite sounds. ·  Play word games with her, such as pat-a-cake or rhyming games. Give her chances to join with you and make sounds together. ·  Engage her in "conversations," even if she doesn't understanding what your words mean. ·  Sing songs. ·  Read simple books aloud. ·  Don't use television as your substitute to stimulate language because it is language within an interactive relationship that counts. ·  Show your delight with her squeals, giggles, chortles and gurgles. ·  Respond to her when she imitates others.
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